China’s Winning Shipping is pushing ahead with its fleet expansion plans, seemingly unshaken by the Guinean government’s recent crackdown on foreign operators. The world’s largest bauxite carrier has just added its first newcastlemax of the year, acquiring the 204,000 dwt Ocean Prometheus from Mitsui OSK Lines, Splash can reveal.

The 2007-built ship, constructed at Japan’s Universal Shipbuilding, has already been renamed Sunny Kamsar, bearing fresh livery on its stern. No price has been attached to the deal.

The deal comes at a time when many foreign players in Guinea are facing mounting pressure from the government, which has taken an aggressive stance to enforce upstream investment commitments. Authorities have revoked licenses, banned select bauxite exports, and imposed stockpiling measures in a bid to localise more of the industry’s value chain.

Yet, Winning appears to be operating in a parallel lane, untouched by the regulatory storm. The company’s entrenched position and infrastructure investments—particularly its long-term dominance in the Kamsar–China bauxite corridor—offer a degree of insulation from the government’s new policies.

The newcastlemax addition extends Winning’s streak of Japanese-built capesize acquisitions. In April, the company picked up the 180,000 dwt Cape Unity (2007-built, Imabari) for just over $22m in what was its first reported purchase of 2025.

That was followed by the 207,900 dwt Sikamia (2008-built, Japan), now trading as Sunny River.

With this latest move, Winning’s fleet grows to 54 ships, composed almost entirely of capesizes, positioning it as a pureplay in the dry bulk arena.